Piaggio P.108

P.108A Artiglieri anti-shipping aircraft

The only four-engine heavy bomber to see operation with Italian forces during World War 11, the Piaggio P.108 was an interesting design. Long established in Italy as engineers and shipbuilders, Piaggio had entered aviation during World War I, producing some aircraft and components under subcontract. Developed from an earlier P .50-11 design for a four-engine bomber, the P.108 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all metal construction, with retractable tailwheel landing gear and power provided by four Piaggio P.XIIRC.35 radial engines, two on each wing, in nacelles at the wing leading edges. Four versions were planned, but only the P.108 Bombardiere, which was first flown in prototype form during 1939, was built in any quantity. The variants, built only as prototypes or in small numbers, comprised first the single P.108A Artiglieri anti-shipping aircraft which, converted from the P.108 prototype, had its standard armament supplemented by the installation of a 102-mm cannon. Captured by German forces at the time of the Allied-Italian armistice, it was impressed for service with the Luftwaffe. The P.108C Civile was a civil transport version with increased wing span and a redesigned fuselage to accommodate 32 passengers. A total of 16 was built, including one prototype, but these were modified for use as military transports accommodating 56 troops, and about 24 P.108Bs were also converted to this configuration. One P.108T (Trasporto) military transport prototype was built as a conversion from a P.108C, from which it differed primarily by incorporating side loading doors and a ventral hatch. Proposed variants included the P.108M (Modificato), a development of the P.108B with the single machine-gun in the nose turret replaced by four guns and a 20-mm cannon; and the P.133, an advanced version of the P.108B with uprated engines and an increased bombload.

The P.108B was first deployed in night attacks on Gibraltar during early 1942, and the type saw service subsequently in the Mediterranean, North African and Russian theatres of operation. A total of 163 was built, but heavy losses meant that less than five per cent survived to serve with the Republican Socialist air force after the armistice with the Allies.

Variants

Production totals of the P108C and T are unclear, but combined there were approximately 16 built, with most of the P108Cs subsequently converted to the transport version.

    Prototype : MM 22001

    Series 1 : MM 22002—22008, MM 22601—22604

    Series 2 : MM 24315—24326

    Series 3 : MM 24667—24678

P.108 Prototype

P.108A Artiglieri

    Anti-shipping version. One built.

P.108B Bombardiere

    Heavy bomber version. 24 built.

P.108C Civile

    Civil transport version. Uncertain number built, but probably six.

P.108M Modificato

    Intended modification of P.108B with heavier armament. None built

P.108T Trasporto

    Transport version. More than 12 (including converted P.108Cs).

P.133

    Advanced version of the P.108B with better engines and increased bombload. Not completed.

Specifications (Piaggio P.108B)

General characteristics

    Crew: 6 or 7

    Length: 22.30 m (73 ft 2 in)

    Wingspan: 32.00 m (105 ft)

    Height: 6.00 m (20 ft)

    Wing area: 135.0 m² (1,453 ft²)

    Empty weight: 17,325 kg (38,195 lb)

    Max takeoff weight: 29,885 kg (65,885 lb)

    Powerplant: 4× Piaggio P.XII RC.35 radial engine, 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) each

Performance

    Maximum speed: 430 km/h (267 mph)

    Range: 3,520 km (2,187 mi)

    Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,187 ft)

Armament

    5 × 12.7 mm (.5 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns

    2 × 7.7 mm (.303 in) Breda-SAFAT machine guns

    3,500 kg (7,700 lb) of bombs

CANT Z.515

The Z.511 transatlantic seaplane in company with the Z.515 light reconnaissance bomber seaplane behind.

Although it bore a higher type number than the Z.511, the twin-engined Z.515 reconnaissance-bomber prototype was built earlier. in 1938. Mounting 750 h.p. Isotta-Fraschini Delta R.C. 40 in-line engines, the Z.515 was equipped with three hand-held 7.7-mm. machine guns and one 12.7-mm. gun in a dorsal turret, and could carry 1320 lb. of bombs. Loaded weight was 18,700 lb. Span was 73 ft. 97/8 in. length 52 ft. 71/% in. height 19 ft. 23/4 in. and wing area 679.2 sq. ft. Maximum speed was 238 m.p.h. cruising speed 190 m.p.h., and range 1180 miles. The Z.515 was not developed, although certain components, including the wing structure, were incorporated in the Z.1018 medium bomber.

CANT Z.511

The Z.511 transatlantic seaplane in company with the Z.515 light reconnaissance bomber seaplane behind.

Taken over by the Regia Aeronautica and given the standard camouflage, the Z.511 became the Z.511A.

In 1939 Zappata designed the four-engined Z.511 transatlantic passenger airliner. Originally intended for Alitalia's South Atlantic route, the Z.511 featured a two-level fuselage with crew and passenger compartments above mail and freight bolds below. Sleeping accommodations for sixteen persons were to be provided. However, the prototype was not completed until after the outbreak of war, flying for the first time in September, 1943.

Another example was built concurrently. An excellent and rugged design, the Z.511 could moor on waves nearly seven feet high with little adverse effect, and had a maximum range of 2796 miles.

An ambitious plan for raiding the New York was under study in 1943 by the Regia Marina, using "Porcellini" man-guided torpedoes, already successfully employed against the British battleship Valiant at Alexandria. The two Z.511 seaplanes were to fly the Atlantic, taxying in under the radar screen to a point from which the manned torpedoes could be launched. No provisions were made for retrieving the naval personnel after their attack. Before this project could be realized, the two Z.511's were damaged beyond repair at Lake Trasimeno by strafing Allied aircraft. The military Z.511A was powered by four 1500 h.p. Piaggio P.XII R.C.35 radial engines giving a maximum speed of 264 m.p.h., a cruising speed of 205 m.p.h. and an alighting speed of 84 m.p.h. It could climb to 13,120 ft. in 16 minutes. Empty and loaded weights were 45,012 lb. and 73,830 lb. respectively. Span was 131 ft. 2 1/2 in. length 93 ft. 6 in. height 36 ft. 1 in. and wing area 2098 sq. ft.